About this role
About the Department and what they are looking for in this position We invite applications for a full time position as Associate Professor in Geomechanics & Geohazards is available at the Department of Geosciences. The Department of Geosciences (GEO) at the University of Oslo is part of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science and is a leading research unit in Europe. The Department covers a wide breadth of topics, from mantle and lithosphere dynamics on Earth and other planets, via surface processes in the boundary layers between Earth’s surface and atmosphere, to the dynamics and interactions in the Earth's crust, soils, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. The Department of Geosciences has defined a strategy focusing on four main themes that cut across the Department: 1. Dynamics of the solid Earth and planets 2. Climate change and the coupled Earth system 3. Environmental geosciences 4. Geoscience in the Arctic The Department aims to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and hosts important contributors to the IPCC (UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). The staff consists of approximately 40 professors and associate professors, in addition to postdoctoral fellows, PhD candidates, researchers, and technical and administrative staff. In total, the Department currently has around 200 employees, one Centre of Excellence and, at present, seven grants from the European Research Council (ERC), along with numerous other grants from public and private institutions. The Department is organized in six sections: Basin Studies Crustal Processes Centre for Planetary Habitability [PHAB, Centre of Excellence] Environmental Geoscience Physical Geography and Hydrology Meteorology and Oceanography and a group in geoscience didactics. The Department offers two bachelor study programmes “Geology and Geography” and “Geophysics and Climate” and one MSc-programme in “Geosciences”. This position is primarily associated with the Crustal Processes section that mostly works with geological processes related to rock deformation (fracture, friction, creep), fluid flow in crustal rocks (water, gas, magma), and fluid-rock interactions. Researchers develop studies from the atomic scale to the lithospheric scale, with applications in the domains of Solid Earth geohazards, porous media, critical raw materials, and large-scale tectonics. Research in the section uses field work, analytical and imaging techniques, modelling, data science, and experiments, and aims to unravel the processes that shape the evolution of the Earth’s crust, and their effects on the environment. The section consists of 40 people, and at present is organised under a Faculty centre between Geoscience and Physics ( Njord Centre ). General information about the position Applicants must document academic qualifications in their field at a level equivalent to an Associate Professor. The position will be based at the University of Oslo. The successful candidate must be able to teach at all levels and supervise Master’s and PhD students. The successful candidate may also be required to take on other teaching duties and administrative tasks when requested by the Department or the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. The working time in the position is divided approximately as follows: 45% research, 45% education, and 10% administrative tasks. The position is closely linked to the Department’s strategy by contributing to “research-based knowledge with societal relevance linked to climate, environment, energy, natural hazards, and sustainable use of resources”. The duties therefore include research, teaching, supervision, and dissemination/communication within both geomechanics and geohazards. The position will serve as a link between the Department’s expertise in various research fields relevant to geohazards (including geophysics, geomechanics, geomorphology, hydrology, hydrogeology and environmental geology). One of our aims is to advance the understanding of slow and rapid rock mass and granular material movements by developing and applying advanced methods and models that contribute to solving fundamental scientific and societal challenges related to geohazards. Your main tasks will be Your main research-related tasks will be: Conduct cutting-edge fundamental research with broad international impact in geomechanics with applications to geohazards (earthquakes, landslides, and other gravitational instabilities). Develop advanced numerical models for improving the simulation, the analysis, and the prediction of geohazards, as well as the application of tools and concepts from other disciplines (e.g. physics, data science) to geomechanics. Attract substantial external research funding (e.g., from EU Horizon programmes, the Research Council of Norway, the Norwegian Directorate for Water Resources and Energy, and related funding bodies). Promote collaboration with external partners such as the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), the Norwegian Seismic Array (NORSAR), and other relevant institutions. Your main teaching-related tasks will be to actively contribute to teaching at both bachelor’s and master’s level in topics related to geomechanics and geohazards, including landslides in granular materials and water/rock interactions. At present, the following 10 ECTS courses are offered at the Department of Geosciences: GEO3034 (Geohazards) GEO4131 (Geomechanics) GEO4151 (Earthquakes and Volcanoes) GEO4171 (Floods, Avalanches, Landslides) The candidate is expected to take primary responsibility for up to two courses and supervise master’s theses in these subject areas. Course responsibility does not imply giving all lectures, but to organise lectures and lab-exercises in the course. Experience and/or interest in fieldwork is also desirable. We expect mainly physical attendance at the University of Oslo. More information about the position Applicants must document academic qualifications